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Qiyana vs Karthus

Qiyana
vs
41.0%

over 441 games

Karthus
Analyze a draft with Qiyana

Hard matchup

High burstHeavy pokeCountered by stasisHeavy AP damage

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Karthus

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Qiyana: Voltaic Cyclosword, Bastionbreaker, Edge of Night, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Serylda's Grudge, Hubris, Serrated Dirk, Serpent's Fang.

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling
Health Potion

Core build

Voltaic Cyclosword
1
Bastionbreaker
2
Edge of Night
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Serylda's Grudge
5

Summoner spells

FlashSmite100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Serylda's Grudge
Hubris
Serrated Dirk
Serpent's Fang
Axiom Arc
Lord Dominik's Regards
Maw of Malmortius
Guardian Angel
Profane Hydra
Umbral Glaive
B. F. Sword
Death's Dance
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Mortal Reminder
Tiamat
Executioner's Calling
50.9% WR106 games
InspirationInspiration
First StrikeFirst Strike
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Triple TonicTriple Tonic
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
DominationDomination
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
Sudden ImpactSudden Impact
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Karthus's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Death Defied (P)

Upon dying, Karthus enters a spirit form that allows him to continue casting spells.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
30s15s0.5s–
60s15s0.5s3m20
90s15s0.5s3m20
110s15s0.5s3m
160s15s0.5s2m40
180s15s0.5s2m40

Playing as Qiyana

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Pick your element for the job

    Pick your Terrashape (W) element for the job: river for an Ice root, terrain for Rock's bonus damage on low-health targets, brush for Wild's invisibility.

  2. Two Elemental Wraths with Terrashape

    Cast Terrashape (W) right after Elemental Wrath (Q): the dash resets its cooldown, so you can recast it in the same combo.

  3. Slam them against a wall

    Cast Supreme Display of Talent (R) toward a wall near the enemies: the explosion runs along the whole edge of the obstacle, and any river or brush it crosses explodes too.

  4. Roam with the brush element

    Roam with Wild, the brush element: Elemental Wrath (Q) then leaves a trail that makes you invisible and speeds you up.

Playing against Karthus

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay near your minions

    Stay near your minions or your allies: Lay Waste (Q) deals much more damage when the blast hits only one enemy.

  2. Jump on him if you can

    If you can engage, jump on him: Karthus has no dash or leap to escape.

  3. Don't stay low once he hits 6

    Once he hits level 6, back instead of staying at low health: Requiem (R) hits every enemy champion wherever they are, 3 seconds after he starts channeling.

  4. Save your protection for Requiem

    If you have a shield, a heal or invulnerability, save it for Requiem (R): it hits every enemy champion 3 seconds after he starts channeling.

  5. Move away after he dies

    Once Karthus is dead, move away: Death Defied (passive) keeps him in spirit form for a while, and he can still cast his spells.

Other Qiyana matchups

Patch 16.21.1